Chapter 10 When Achan looked at Xue Shi, she happened to look over as well.
Zhao Wensheng did not see Achan. He hurriedly entered the Zhao residence with the fish basket. After closing the back door, the fishy smell lingered for a long time.
Achan didn't take it to heart, but after returning home, she felt a foul, fishy smell clinging to her body. She endured it for a while, then went to the kitchen to boil water, took a bath, and washed her clothes.
Perhaps the kitchen door was too wide open, letting in a draft of cold air, and she developed a fever the next day.
Fortunately, after her previous fever, she knew that when people are sick, they need to see a doctor, especially someone as weak as her, who could easily die.
She forced herself to get up and went to the clinic on the next street to get some medicine.
The doctor who examined her pulse also said that she was weak and needed to take good care of herself, and that she should pay extra attention to her health on a daily basis.
Ah Chan thanked the doctor and rubbed her wrist. As long as the black lines were still there and this problem couldn't be solved, her body probably wouldn't recover.
The illness came on quickly but went away slowly. At first, she felt better after taking the medicine for two days, but then she stopped taking it on time, and her condition relapsed.
Having learned her lesson, Achan dared not stop taking the medicine on her own again. She took the medicine for several more days before she fully recovered.
By the time she had fully recovered, it was already February. These past few days, Mother Sun hadn't come, and Achan didn't know how Xiaolin's health was.
On the tenth day of the second lunar month, the weather was sunny.
Ah Chan dressed warmly and burned mugwort in the room. After about fifteen minutes, the room was filled with smoke before she opened the doors and windows to ventilate it. As soon as she opened the window, she saw the Zhao family's carriage below.
She hurried downstairs and just then heard a knock on the door.
When the door opened, Sun's mother was standing outside, and the strong smell of mugwort emanating from her made her take a step back.
Ah Chan smiled as she looked at the set of clothes that Mama Sun was holding, and asked softly, "Mama Sun, did you come today because Auntie's health has recovered?"
“That’s right.” Madam Sun nodded, but her tone was somewhat hesitant. “Madam has finally recovered after taking the medicine to prevent miscarriage for a few days, but recently her appetite has been excessively good.”
"Isn't this a good thing?" Everyone says that being able to eat is a blessing.
"It's a good thing." Mrs. Sun forced a smile, but a worry lingered in her eyes.
Achan was curious, but did not ask any further questions.
Madam Sun only paused for a moment before turning her attention back to Achan. She handed the clothes in her hands to Achan and said, "The Flower Festival is in two days. Madam wants to go to the Flower Goddess Temple to pray. These are new clothes specially chosen for the young lady."
The top of this dress is white, with pink peach blossoms embroidered on the collar and cuffs, while the skirt is a white-pink gradient, also embroidered with floral branches on the hem, making it very exquisite. Both the fabric and the workmanship are far superior to what A-Chan is wearing, and naturally, it is also much more expensive.
Achan did not refuse. She took the clothes and said generously, "Please thank your aunt for me, Aunt Sun."
She took the clothes and discovered that there was a wooden box underneath them, which was also placed in Achan's hands.
Madam Sun explained with a smile, "Here is a newly made headdress, several pairs of earrings, and a few velvet flowers, which were also specially chosen by the madam for the young lady. The day after tomorrow, young lady, don't forget to wear them."
"Since it is Aunt's kind offer, it would be impolite of me to refuse."
She accepted the gifts; whether or not Kobayashi could achieve her goal depended on her mood.
Achan was looking forward to the Flower Festival, or rather, she liked lively places.
On the morning of February 12th, she changed into new clothes, put her hair up in a simple bun, and chose a peach blossom hairpin and a pink velvet flower hairpin. Even her earrings were shaped like peach petals.
This box of golden peach blossoms must have been a gift from Madam Kobayashi, who wanted to find some precious peach blossoms for her.
She had just finished getting ready when Aunt Sun arrived.
When Madam Sun saw Ah Chan open the door, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Madam Sun's eyes were indeed sharp. This cousin had only dressed up a little, and even she couldn't take her eyes off her, let alone others. She was truly beautiful and charming.
Achan and Granny Sun rode in a carriage back to the Zhao residence. They were waiting for Madam Lin and Zhao Wenyue to set off for the Flower Goddess Temple together.
In the main room, Madam Kobayashi had been up for a while, and was having her breakfast when Achan arrived.
Before even entering the house, Achan smelled a fishy odor again. She really disliked the smell, so she slowed down and couldn't help but ask Aunt Sun in a low voice, "Does Auntie also want to eat fish for breakfast?"
Speaking of this, Sun's mother's face was full of worry: "That's right, I don't know what's wrong with Madam lately. She has to eat fish at every meal, and she can eat a whole fish in one sitting. Yesterday, the kitchen didn't make any, and the cook was scolded by Madam and almost kicked out of the mansion."
Achan sensed something was amiss and asked again, "Three live fish a day? Live fish aren't easy to buy these days, are they?"
"Live fish are indeed hard to buy; the eldest young master always finds fishmongers he knows to buy them and have them delivered to the mansion."
"It's really not easy for my cousin to buy so many live fish at this time of year."
“Who says otherwise? The eldest son has been very filial lately, and the madam has been much happier,” Madam Sun chimed in.
Seeing that she couldn't get any information, Achan changed the subject: "Did Aunt Sun have someone investigate the crying that Aunt heard that day?"
"We investigated everything, but found nothing. Fortunately, the lady hasn't heard any more sounds since that day."
Achan nodded.
Actually, excluding the possibility of spirits causing trouble, the most likely cause is human intervention. After all, spirits wouldn't be so idle unless there was a deep-seated grudge. It's just that she's an outsider, so she can't say it outright.
The only mistress of this household is Madam Lin; the rest are her husband and their two children. If someone were to cause trouble, there would be no suspect.
Madam Sun did not notice the change in Achan's expression and continued, "Madam has already seen the sachets that you made last time. She likes the scent of the sachets very much. She also said that she would like you to make a few more for the summer. However, she felt that the embroidery on the outside of the sachets was not delicate enough."
Achan was a little embarrassed and didn't dare to say that she had bought the sachet herself.
"By the way, I wonder if you could concoct a fragrant medicine to repel rodents and insects?"
"What does Granny Sun want this for? Is there a rat infestation in the mansion?" Achan asked in confusion.
Madam Sun frowned, as if she had just remembered something: "A few days ago, the cook told me that recently, every morning, a lot of flying insects have gathered outside the kitchen, and there have been quite a few more rats in the house."
"Did you leave some food in the kitchen that wasn't cleaned properly, attracting rodents and insects?"
“I think so too, but that cook Wang just won’t admit it.” Mother Sun snorted. “It’s because the madam is pregnant and doesn’t have time to take care of them. They’re all so disgraceful.”
"Didn't you use any pesticides to repel rodents and insects?"
"How could it be useless? It's the same medicine powder we always use, but it had no effect at all this time. The rats are running rampant all over the kitchen."
Ah Chan thought for a moment before saying, "Ordinary incense is not very effective at repelling rats and insects, while burning incense is more effective. However, the kitchen will inevitably retain the smell after burning incense, and no one can enter for a day or two."
"This... I'm afraid that won't work. Could you perhaps think of another way, young lady?"
Since there were no other masters in their household, there was no small kitchen; all the food for the entire household came from the main kitchen.
Achan didn't refuse: "Okay, I'll think of other prescriptions when I get back."
Normal incense recipes won't work, but she can use some special ones, though the ingredients are hard to find.
However, since Ms. Kobayashi was always generous, she naturally had to meet the other party's needs.
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun beamed with joy: "Then I'll trouble you, young lady."
The two walked into the main room as they talked. The maid who was serving fish bones at the table was sent aside. Madam Lin, oblivious to everyone else, was holding the plate of fish and had already eaten half a fish. She didn't even look up when they came in.
The fish wasn't particularly big, weighing about a pound, but even if I liked it, I wouldn't eat it for every meal.
Even if Ah Chan herself really likes to eat chicken, she won't eat it every day. She'll still occasionally nibble on some vegetable leaves. Besides, Kobayashi is pregnant.
But even Granny Sun, who had served Madam Lin for many years, didn't dare to say anything, so Achan certainly wouldn't say anything either.
After Kobayashi finished eating the whole fish, she put down her chopsticks, looking completely satisfied.
Ah Chan took a closer look at Madam Lin and noticed that she seemed to have gained weight in the past few days, but her complexion was not as good as when she first met her, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
When she stood up, Achan noticed that her belly seemed to be bigger than it had been a few days ago.
"Sit down." Madam Kobayashi pointed to the stool next to the table and asked Achan to sit down. Then she instructed Mama Sun, "Go and see if Wenyue is ready. Tell her to hurry up."
Before Sun's mother could leave, Zhao Wenyue's voice rang out: "I've already finished packing. You're clearly the slowest, Mother."
When Zhao Wenyue entered the main room, she found Achan there, with her favorite velvet flower hairpin in her hair. Her eyes immediately turned hostile.
However, she soon remembered what her mother had said yesterday: finding a good marriage for Ji Chan would be beneficial to the family, so she held back.
Anyway, Ji Chan can only be proud for a short time. No matter how alluring she dresses up, she is only fit to be someone's concubine.
After Zhao Wenyue arrived, Madam Lin, supported by Granny Sun, left the courtyard. Two carriages slowly drove away from the Zhao residence, heading west towards Yongding Gate.
Because it was the Flower Festival, there were especially many carriages and horses on the way to Yongding Gate. It took them an hour and a half to finally queue up and get out of the city gate.
The carriage traveled slowly, stopping frequently, and after another half hour, it finally arrived at Yongshan.
The Flower Goddess Temple is built halfway up the mountain, so everyone has to get off the bus and walk up the mountain. Fortunately, the mountain is not steep, so walking slowly is not too tiring.
By this time, many colorful papers had been hung on the trees on both sides of the mountain path, and when the wind blew, it looked like the trees were full of flowers.
Xiao Lin also prepared five-colored paper for A Chan and Zhao Wenyue. A Chan found a low tree branch to hang it up. When she turned around, she saw a middle-aged woman coming up behind her. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was none other than Xue Shi.
Xue's two children followed behind her, as did her younger brother, Xue Mingtang.
When Achan looked at Xue Shi, she happened to look over as well.
Achan didn't avoid her gaze and even smiled at her. Xue Shi, on the other hand, seemed to be startled and took a step back, but was supported by Xue Mingtang.
Kobayashi also saw the Xue family, her expression indifferent, and she didn't make way for them.
Although she disliked her elder sister, she wouldn't give a kind look to the bitch who stole her sister's position.
On the contrary, Zhao Wenyue, after hanging up the five-colored paper, turned around and saw Xue Mingtang, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.
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